Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-17

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THE METROPOLIS.
Special Correspondents of THE EVENING STAR.
NEW YORK. December 16
A score and more OF French statesmen and poll
ticians have been prominent before the whole
world for the past two weeks but none have 50
much interested Americans. and particularly New
workers. as Citizen Clemenceau as his electors
are pleased 70 style him. or Eugene Clemenceau,
as the good father baptized him In October, ls<1.
He was just a month old theL, and his path from
the cradle to the thorny way that leads up 70 the
assembly has been one pientifully mixed with
romance.
-Four years OF his life were spent In America be
tween school teaching In the rural districts OF Con-
nectcut and slipping coffee with the brilliant crowd
OF Bohemians at Pfaf's In this city. since then,
as all the world knows Clemenceau has been won
derfully prospered and Is now the leader OF the ex-
treme left
peasants In the chair OF the young republic, when
thrown again, may land Clemenceau at the head
Of the nation II Is the dream OF his life 70 be pres
BY profession Ciemenceau is q physician. He
studied In Paris and was the favorfte pupil OF the
admitted to the degree OF doctor OF medicine in
1865 on the strength OF remarkable thesis on the
generation OF anatomic elements thesis In which
the theories which DIR. Robin had scattered con-
fusedly In q score of volumes This thesis remains
W enis uay Inc pest exposition OF the theories In
Que stion.
OPPOSED 10 The EMPIRE.
Clemenceau was naturally In opposition to the
empire. He had tasted prison life for calling upon
the students OF the college TO manifestation on
the Place de la Bastille In commemoration OF Feb
ruary "a, the nay OF the outbreak OF the Revolu-
ton OF Az For this he was imprisoned for sixty
days at Mozas He saw little prospect OF advance
ment in his profession, and so he gathered money
enough, and one day In 1896 landed In New York.
He took up his residence In 18th street He
remained In America for four years He was well
educated OF fine address, and a manly -looking
man. he settled in the French quarter. He hung
out his doctors sign but SUCCEEDED only poorly
here, or In any other city, and so Clemenceau found
II necessary TO turn 10 other work. He advertised
this he succeeded better. He became the professor
or French In young ladies' seminary. he was
young and talented and soon made hosts OF friends
He continued the practice OF medicine, too and 50
made a respectable income.
HIS LIFE IN AMERICA
"He was one OF the brainiest young men ever
knew" said an old French physician TO me to-day.
"He came TO this country without money or
friends and by his own exertions supported him.
self, and made a good reputation, too He never
wasted 4 moment He parceled out his time so
that he could devote so many hours to teaching
30 many 10 study, and so many TO literary work
and the study OF our Institutions. He wrote on all
sorts OF subjects He corresponded regularly with
and speeches. and Be also transissed into
French John stuart Mills, 'Auguste Compile
sns ~ ne qSek fseane
to read and write English. lie took deep inter-
est In all Institutions. lie visited the courts,
the prisons, the forts In the harbor, and studied
with great diligence our system OF government.
He was particularly Interested In studying the
condition Of the poor He was an oms INN
country he gained a very deep insight into the
American plan OF conducting republic. He went
as far South as Richmond He tod me the recol-
lections OF the war haunted him and he could not
bear to 60 further. The West impressed him
deeply. lie spent month in Chicago and the
eustle and activity OF the busy Western men and
women impressed him ravorably. His visits West
and South were taken during brief holidays He
found the practice OF medicine so unremunerative
that he finally took down his Doctors single and
devoted himself to teaching and writing. But he
spent many an hour In the big hospitals, and
wrote on the subject OF hospital management for
Paris newspaper. He praised the system highly.
ne was particularly Impressed with the proceed
spent many an hour In the House and senate 60
leries listening 10 the debates OF those stirring
days In fact there was no branch OF the Gov
eminent that he did not take a deep interest In
/ remember one night, as l sat with him In his
room, how eloquent he became on the subject OF
the future OF America He was and Is great be-
lever In destiny. He told me that he knew he
would one day be president OF France. Who
knows? Perhaps he WILL
his ROMANTIC MARRIAGE.
country was that in which he became interested
in a beautiful and wealthy young lady, MISS Mary
&. Plumner by name. As remember the circum.
stances now, IL was case Of love at first sight.
The young lady's father did not look with appro-
val upon Clemenceau. The lady referred to Was q
scholar In Clemenceaus French class. Finally,
the ladys father took his daughter rom the
school, ana the lovers were separated Clemen-
ceau took the matter deeply to heart II was his
first love affair. One day he surprised me by an
nouncing that he had decided 70 leave New York
Connecticut a a
could not bear the Thought OF remaining In the
same city with the object OF his love without
school at Greenwich for year. Distance. how
ever, rather increased the love on both sides and
the lovers corresponded IL all ended as such
things usually do. The lovers triumphed- The
father relented, and they were married n % A.
Oakley Hall. then mayor, performed the ceremony.
They took a journey TO France on their wedding
tour and have never returned Clemenceau found
way TO utilize his talents In Paris ana his pretty
wife with her fortune nelped him In many ways
lished himself as q physician In handsome quar-
tiers In Montmartre, OF which place lie had risen
TO be mayor at the outbreak OF the Franco-Ger
man war OF 1870"
HIS POLITICAL CAREER. '.f
since then be has lived In the fierce light that
beats upon all great leaders or the people. In all
the scenes that have stirred France he has taken
an active part. He has been arrested time and
again for disobeying orders OF tyrant superiors
lie has made record as a duelst by fighting with
The famous Paul de Cassagnac. In the duel neither
was hurt. AT the time referrel TO Clemenceau
had thrown over medicine for politics and had be
come leader OF the people and an editor OF the
ReputtiQue Frdncdtse. Cassagnac did not like
Clemencesu and he again challenged him to q
duel. Clemenceau agreed. He n0tlied Cass tg-
macs second that his principal would never again
fight duel This news was carried TO Cassagnac
and he sKulked out OF II, for Clemenceau Is dead
shot
lie kes the nveliest interest In American AZ
fairs and for TWO years after he became connected
with the ReputiiQue Franoaise he wrote letters
from America without leaving his editorial room
In Paris. He likes Americans an q Is never so well
pleased as wnen he has some prominent American
al his house TO dinner, and they discuss always In
English, the feeling OF our country. In appearance
HIS hair Is cropped close and Is quite gray. The
eyes are black and shiny. The nose is large. He
dresses neatly and In good taste. His manners are
those OF a polished gentleman OF the world. He Is
q great smoker, moderate eater, and great be-
lever In water. He never drinks liquors OF any
Kind. He Is a splendid orator. When he rises In
the assembly 70 speak he Is listened 70 with great
attention He believes In the future OF the repub-
lie. As leader OF the LEFT he Is q man Of great
power and influence. He win be president OF the
republic some day. FOSTER COATES
GEN. DAN sIcKLES
Ihave just enjoyed an hours chat with veteran
one-legged hero OF the war, who Is always an OBJ
Ject OF interest TO New Workers. Gen Dan Sickles,
who left his right pillar on the battlefield OF Get
tysburg a quarter OF q century ago. As you loox
at Gen. Sickies II Is hard to believe that In three
years he will reach the age OF threescore ana ten.
In his frame he Is truly q "stalwart Of the stall.
warts" He Is OF great gtrth In the body and chest
hammer OF Thor. He has a massive head, strong
features a dark complexion and AN energetic ex-